U.S. patent number 11,420,829 [Application Number 16/774,694] was granted by the patent office on 2022-08-23 for device and method for transferring components.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TE Connectivity Services GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is TE Connectivity Services GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jian Cao, Yingcong Deng, Lvhai Hu, Yun Liu, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Fengchun Xie, An Yang.
United States Patent |
11,420,829 |
Cao , et al. |
August 23, 2022 |
Device and method for transferring components
Abstract
A device for transferring components includes a transfer
assembly and a drive assembly. The transfer assembly has a transfer
track transferring a plurality of components therein. The transfer
track has an operation position for operating the components. The
drive assembly has a first drive mechanism transferring a first set
of components of the components at the operation position in the
transfer track and a second drive mechanism transferring a second
set of components of the components at the operation position in
the transfer track. The first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism in turn drive the first set of components and the second
set of components, continuously transferring the components.
Inventors: |
Cao; Jian (Shanghai,
CN), Hu; Lvhai (Shanghai, CN), Xie;
Fengchun (Shanghai, CN), Liu; Yun (Shanghai,
CN), Yang; An (Shanghai, CN), Deng;
Yingcong (Shanghai, CN), Lu; Roberto Francisco-Yi
(Bellevue, WA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
TE Connectivity Services GmbH |
Shanghai
Schaffhausen |
N/A
N/A |
CN
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
TE Connectivity Services GmbH
(Schaffhausen, CH)
Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (Shanghai,
CN)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006513539 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/774,694 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200247620 A1 |
Aug 6, 2020 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 31, 2019 [CN] |
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201910099103.0 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25J
19/02 (20130101); B25J 9/1687 (20130101); H01R
43/20 (20130101); B65G 47/90 (20130101); Y10T
29/49208 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
47/90 (20060101); H01R 43/20 (20060101); B25J
19/02 (20060101); B25J 9/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;29/876 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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112009959 |
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Dec 2020 |
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CN |
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112722854 |
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Apr 2021 |
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CN |
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112743513 |
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May 2021 |
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CN |
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WO-2020224288 |
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Nov 2020 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Hannan; B M M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barley Snyder
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for transferring components, comprising: a transfer
assembly including a transfer track transferring a plurality of
components therein, the transfer track having an operation position
for operating the components; and a drive assembly including a
first drive mechanism transferring a first set of components of the
components at the operation position in the transfer track and a
second drive mechanism transferring a second set of components of
the components at the operation position in the transfer track, the
first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism in turn drive
the first set of components and the second set of components,
continuously transferring the components.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer track has an inlet
and an outlet, the operation position has a feed position located
between the inlet and the outlet and closer to the inlet.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transfer assembly includes a
first retaining member disposed on the transfer track adjacent to
the feed position and holding the components entering the transfer
track from the inlet at the feed position.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the transfer assembly includes a
first sensor positioned close to the feed position and detecting
whether the components arrive at the feed position.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the operation position has an
inserting position located between the feed position and the
outlet, a plurality of mating components are inserted into the
components at the inserting position.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the transfer assembly includes a
second retaining member disposed on the transfer track adjacent to
the inserting position and holding the components when the mating
components are inserted into the components.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein the transfer assembly includes a
third sensor disposed close to the inserting position and detecting
a specific position of the first drive mechanism or the second
drive mechanism arriving at the inserting position.
8. The device of claim 2, wherein the transfer assembly includes a
second sensor disposed close to the feed position and detecting a
specific position of the first drive mechanism or the second drive
mechanism arriving at the feed position.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first drive mechanism
includes a first motor, a first drive table connected with the
first motor, and a first drive member, the first drive member
includes a first slide track disposed on the first drive table, a
first slider sliding on the first slide track by a screw rod under
an action of the first motor, and a first drive finger connected
with the first slider, the first drive finger slides on the first
slide track along with the first slider and is inserted into a side
portion of one of the components to transfer the components in the
transfer track.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first drive table is
disposed above the transfer track, a first end of the first drive
finger is connected with the first slider and a second end of the
first drive finger extends obliquely downward into the transfer
track.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the second drive mechanism
includes a second motor, a second drive table connected with the
second motor, and a second drive member, the second drive member
includes a second slide track disposed on the second drive table, a
second slider sliding on the second slide track by a screw rod
under an action of the second motor, and a second drive finger
connected with the second slider, the second drive finger slides on
the second slide track along with the second slider and is inserted
into a side portion of one of the components to transfer the
components in the transfer track.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second drive table is
disposed below the transfer track, a first end of the second drive
finger is connected with the second slider and a second end of the
second drive finger extends obliquely upward into the transfer
track.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer assembly has a
transfer table in which the transfer track is disposed.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the transfer table has an upper
portion and a lower portion, the transfer track is formed by a
recess between the upper portion and the lower portion.
15. A method for transferring components, comprising: providing a
device including a transfer assembly including a transfer track
transferring a plurality of components therein, the transfer track
having an operation position for operating the components, and a
drive assembly including a first drive mechanism transferring a
first set of components of the components at the operation position
in the transfer track and a second drive mechanism transferring a
second set of components of the components at the operation
position in the transfer track, the transfer track has an inlet and
an outlet, the operation position has a feed position located
between the inlet and the outlet and closer to the inlet; feeding
the components to the transfer track; and activating the drive
assembly to enable the first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism to transfer in turn the first set of components and the
second set of components in the transfer track, continuously
transferring the components.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the activating step includes:
driving one of the first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism to the operation position of the transfer track while
driving the other of the first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism to the outlet of the transfer track; driving the first
set of components at the operation position by the one of the first
drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism to transfer the
first set of components in the transfer track from the operation
position to the outlet and to drive the first set of components to
exit out of the transfer track from the outlet; and driving the
other one of the first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism to return to the operation position.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the activating step includes:
driving the second set of components at the operation position by
the other one of the first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism to transfer the second set of components in the transfer
track from the operation position to the outlet and to drive the
second set of components to exit out of the transfer track from the
outlet; and driving the one of the first drive mechanism and the
second drive mechanism to return to the operation position.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting whether
the components arrive at the feed position by a first sensor of the
transfer assembly located close to the feed position.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the feeding step includes
holding the components entering the transfer track from the inlet
at the feed position by a first retaining member of the transfer
assembly.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the operation position has an
inserting position located between the feed position and the
outlet, the activating step includes inserting a plurality of
mating components into the components with the components held by a
second retaining member of the transfer assembly located close to
the inserting position when the components arrive at the inserting
position of the transfer track.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No.
201910099103.0, filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for transferring
components and, more particularly, to a device for transferring
components including a pair of drive mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
An air cylinder is generally used to transfer a housing so as to
insert a terminal into the housing, thereby assembling an
electrical connector. Such a process is only carried out on one
housing at every turn, that is, the terminal is inserted into only
one housing during each process. Therefore, if such a process is
used to transfer the housing to assemble the electrical connector,
an assembly speed may not meet production requirements. Moreover, a
positioning precision for the housing in the process is not high
enough to meet quality requirements of the electrical connector,
thereby adversely affecting a yield rate of insertion. For some
simple automated processes, the housing is transferred by a servo
module. However, this manner is not adapted to transferring a
plurality of housings, thereby also adversely affecting the yield
rate of insertion.
SUMMARY
A device for transferring components includes a transfer assembly
and a drive assembly. The transfer assembly has a transfer track
transferring a plurality of components therein. The transfer track
has an operation position for operating the components. The drive
assembly has a first drive mechanism transferring a first set of
components of the components at the operation position in the
transfer track and a second drive mechanism transferring a second
set of components of the components at the operation position in
the transfer track. The first drive mechanism and the second drive
mechanism in turn drive the first set of components and the second
set of components, continuously transferring the components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for transferring
components according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A of the device of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a component according to an
embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mating component according to an
embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to
an embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for transferring components using
the device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
The technical solution of the present disclosure will be described
hereinafter in further detail with reference to the following
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals
indicate the same or similar parts. The description of the
embodiments of the present disclosure hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general
inventive concept of the present disclosure, and should not be
constructed as a limitation to the present disclosure. In addition,
in the following detailed description, for the sake of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be
apparent, however, one or more embodiments may also be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are illustrated schematically in order to
simplify the drawing.
A device 100 for transferring components according to an
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, comprises a base 30, a support
40, a transfer assembly 10, and a drive assembly 20. As shown in
FIG. 1, a pair of supports 40 are provided on the base 30 and
support the transfer assembly 10 and drive assembly 20.
The transfer assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a transfer
track 11 allowing a plurality of components 200 such as housings of
connector assemblies to be transferred therein. The transfer track
11 has an operation position for operating the components 200.
The drive assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a first drive
mechanism 21 transferring a first set of components 200 at the
operation position in the transfer track 11, and a second drive
mechanism 22 transferring a second set of components 200 at the
operation position in the transfer track 11. The first and second
drive mechanisms 21, 22 in turn drive the first and second sets of
components 200 to continuously transfer different components
200.
In the shown embodiment, two drive mechanisms 21, 22 are used to
transfer in turn the components 200, so as to continuously transfer
the components 200. Further, each of the first and second sets of
components 200 may include at least one component 200. Each drive
mechanism 21, 22 is adapted to transfer at least one component 200,
such as one, two, three, or more, at every turn. A specific number
of the transferred components 200 depends on a length of each
component 200. A speed for transferring the components 200 may
thereby be increased and thus production requirements may be
met.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer track 11 includes an inlet 111 and
an outlet 112. The operation position of the transfer track 11
includes a feed position 113, located between the inlet 111 and the
outlet 112 and closer to the inlet 111, and an inserting position
114 located between the feed position 113 and the outlet 112. A
mating component 300 such as the terminal of the connector assembly
is inserted into the component 200 at the inserting position 114 to
form the connector assembly 400, as shown in FIGS. 4-6.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer assembly 10 includes a transfer
table 12 in which the transfer track 11 is disposed. The transfer
table 12 has an upper portion 121 and a lower portion 122. A recess
is formed between the upper portion 121 and the lower portion 122,
and the recess constitutes the transfer track 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer assembly 10 includes a first
retaining member 13, for example, made of a resilient pad. The
first retaining member 13 is disposed on the transfer table 12
adjacent to the feed position 113, and holds the components 200
entering the transfer track 11 from the inlet 111 at the feed
position 113. In some exemplary embodiments, the transfer assembly
10 further includes a second retaining member 14, for example, made
of a resilient pad. The second retaining member 14 is disposed on
the transfer table 12 adjacent to the inserting position 14, and
holds the component 200 stably when the mating component 300 is
inserted into the component 200.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first drive mechanism 21 includes a first
motor 211, a first drive table 213, and a first drive member 212.
The first motor 211 includes a servo motor or a stepper motor. In
an embodiment, the first motor 211 includes a servo motor, thereby
ensuring good process control and precise positioning. The first
drive table 213 is connected with the first motor 211.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first drive table 213 is disposed at the
upper portion 121 of the transfer table 12. The first drive member
212 includes a first slide track 2121, a first slider 2122, and a
first drive finger 2123. The first slide track 2121 includes a lead
screw and is disposed on the first drive table 213. The first
slider 2122 slides on the first slide track 2121 by a screw rod
2124 under an action of the first motor 211. A first end of the
first drive finger 2123 is connected with the first slider 2122 and
slides on the first slide track 2121 along with the first slider
2122. A second end of the first drive finger 2123 extends obliquely
downward into the transfer track 11 and is inserted into a side
portion 210 of the component 200, shown in FIG. 4, so as to
transfer the component 200 in the transfer track 11.
The second drive mechanism 22, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a
second motor 221, a second drive table 223, and a second drive
member 222. The second motor 221 includes a servo motor or a
stepper motor. In an embodiment, the second motor 221 includes a
servo motor, thereby ensuring good process control and precise
positioning. The second drive table 223 is connected with the
second motor 221 and disposed at the lower portion 122 of the
transfer table 12. The second drive member 222 includes a second
slide track 2221, a second slider 2222, and a second drive finger.
The second slide track 2221 includes a lead screw and is disposed
on the second drive table 223. The second slider 2222 slides on the
second slide track 2221 by a screw rod under an action of the
second motor 221. A first end of the second drive finger is
connected with the second slider 2222 and slides on the second
slide track 2221 along with the second slider 2222. A second end of
the second drive finger extends obliquely upward into the transfer
track 11 and is inserted into a side portion 210 of the component
200 so as to transfer the component 200 in the transfer track
11.
In an embodiment, the transfer assembly 10 includes a first sensor
disposed close to the feed position 113 for detecting whether the
component 200 arrives at the feed position 113, a second sensor
disposed close to the feed position 113 for detecting a specific
position of the first or second drive finger arriving at the feed
position 113, and a third sensor disposed close to the inserting
position 114 for detecting a specific position of the first or
second drive finger arriving at the inserting position 114, in
order to precisely control the component transfer process.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of third slide tracks 60 and a
slide table 50 sliding on the third slide tracks 60 are provided on
the base 30. The slide table 50 supports the support 40. With this
arrangement, as the slide table 50 slides on the third slide tracks
60, the device 100 for transferring components may be adjusted to a
proper position to cooperate with other work modules. As shown in
FIG. 3, the device 100 for transferring components further includes
a pair of lock mechanisms 70 on the base 30. The lock mechanisms 70
extend along a pair of sides of the slide table 50 parallel to the
third slide track 60. The device 100 for transferring components
may be fixed by utilizing the two lock mechanisms 70. When the
device 100 for transferring components needs to be maintained, it
is only necessary to release the lock mechanisms 70.
A method for transferring components using the device 100, as shown
in FIG. 7, includes the steps of:
S100: providing the device 100 for transferring components as
described in any of the above-mentioned embodiments;
S200: feeding the components 200 to the transfer track 11; and
S300: activating the drive assembly 20 to enable the first drive
mechanism 21 and the second drive mechanism 22 to transfer in turn
the first and second sets of components 200 in the transfer track
11 so as to continuously transfer the components 200.
In some embodiments, in the step S200, the components 200 are
automatically conveyed to the inlet 111 of the transfer track 11 by
a conveyor or other devices, and the components 200 entering from
the inlet 111 move by inertia to the feeding position 113, in which
case the first retaining member 13 close to the feed position 113
will press the components 200 and hold them at the feed position
113.
In some embodiments, between the steps S200 and S300, the method
further includes detecting whether the components 200 arrive at the
feed position 113 by a first sensor of the transfer assembly 10
close to the feed position, improving the control precision.
In some exemplary embodiments, the step S300 includes:
S310: driving one of the first and second drive mechanisms 21, 22
to the operation position of the transfer track 11 and driving the
other one of the first and second drive mechanisms 21, 22 to the
outlet 112 of the transfer track 11;
S320: driving the first set of components 200 at the operation
position by the one of the first and second drive mechanisms 21,
22, so as to transfer the first set of components 200 in the
transfer track 11 from the operation position to the outlet 112 and
to drive the first set of components 200 to exit out of the
transfer track 11 from the outlet 112, and driving the other one of
the first and second drive mechanisms 21, 22 to return to the
operation position;
S330: driving the second set of components 200 at the operation
position by the other one of the first and second drive mechanisms
21, 22, so as to transfer the second set of components 200 in the
transfer track 11 from the operation position to the outlet 112 and
to drive the second set of components 200 to exit out of the
transfer track 11 from the outlet 112, and driving the one of the
first and second drive mechanisms 21, 22 to return to the operation
position;
S340: repeating the step S320.
In some embodiments, in the step S320 or S330, when the drive
finger of one drive mechanism 21, 22 arrives at the feed position
113, the component 200 located at the feed position 113 presses
downward the drive finger and arrives at the inlet 111 of the
transfer track 11 along with the drive finger. The drive finger
then travels from the inlet 111 to the feed position 113 under the
action of the corresponding drive mechanism 21, 22, and the drive
finger springs back and penetrates the side portion 210 of the
component 200, so as to drive the component 200 reliably towards
the outlet 112 of the transfer track 11. The drive finger transfers
the component 200 to the inserting position under the action of the
corresponding drive mechanism 21, 22, and the mating component 300
is inserted into the component 200 in the process of transferring
the component 200 through the inserting position. Lastly, the drive
finger drives the component 200 to exit out of the transport track
11 from the outlet 112 to go to the next station.
In some embodiments, the specific position of the drive finger may
be detected by the second sensor close to the feed position 113
when the drive finger arrives at the feed position 113, thereby
achieving accurate positioning. Similarly, the specific position of
the drive finger may be detected by the third sensor close to the
inserting position 114 when the drive finger arrives at the
inserting position 114, thereby also achieving accurate
positioning. In some embodiments, during the process of inserting
the mating component 300 into the component 200, the component 200
may be pressed by the second retaining member 14 to avoid
inaccurate positioning of the component 200 due to high speed and
inertia.
Although the above descriptions have been made by taking the
transferred component 200 as the housing of the connector assembly
and the mating component 300 as the terminal, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto. The transferred component 200
may include a portion of other assembly, such as a housing of a
fiber optic connector; in another aspect, the mating component 300
may include a dust cap of the fiber optic connector.
The device 100 for transferring components in the above-described
embodiment is a fully automatic device, and may be integrated into
an automatic production line with little modification to improve
efficiency. The device 100 for transferring components is also
suitable for products with different pins as long as the length of
the component 200 transferred at one time meets the requirements of
the products.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above
embodiments are intended to be illustrative, modifications may be
made to the above embodiments by those skilled in the art, and
structures described in various embodiments may be freely combined
without having structural and principle conflict. Thus the present
disclosure may achieve more devices for transferring components and
methods for transferring components on the basis of solving the
problem to be solved by the present disclosure.
After describing in detail the embodiments of the present
disclosure, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that various changes or modifications may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
disclosure, the scope of which is not defined by the exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure, but defined in the claims
and their equivalents.
* * * * *